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Experiencing the Pocketbook Nostalgia

Book review of Ang Diary ni Joaquina by Joi Barrios

Long ago, I used to read romance pocketbooks through borrowing these Precious Hearts Romances for 10 pesos. This was way back CPA review school years, before Facebook. The old lady was stationed near the Book Sale-Pedro Gil Branch, just across the queues for Guadalupe-L Guinto jeepney. Once borrowed, I read it throughout the commute and return the same novel the next day, after the review classes in Business Law and Taxation (BLT).

Romance tropes are very marketable works from way back late ’90s, and almost all of them are formulaic, with unrealistic expectations, superficial dramas, and yet ends with a “happy ever after”. And even so, my 2007 kilig-kilig chenes era devoured these romantic tropes as an escape from the rigorous practice board exams.

However, if I read Joi Barrios’ Joaquina then, it would greatly elevated my reading progress from mere flimsy and mushy kaluguran daku’s since this piece of craft involves social activism as part of its world-building; these societal issues define the characters and their motivations and motions. For me, this kind of “panitikan ng pakikisangkot” should gain more traction in the Pinoy romance literary landscape. I remember reading the same vibe, albeit in English language, and that was Ana Tejano’s debut novel (with SocDev / NGOs as part of the overarching theme).

Kudos to Gantala Press for reprinting this after more than 20 years. A bit expensive though— considering the paper quality and the font size (reason for a 1 star deduction). Indeed, a main challenge for indie presses is to distribute good books at an affordable prices. I suddenly miss the 10pesos price tag in renting a book (yes, I am calling out the PH Government; please provide printing subsidies for quality books. Better yet, BUILD MORE LIBRARIES!!!)

Workshop Letter of Intent

Instead of dilly-dallying on how to sell yourself in the “best image” imaginable, just went brutally honest and get on with it. I am even not a good writer in Filipino, so I opted to write in english / taglish instead.

29 November 2025

Dear Ricky Lee and the Workshop working team,

I wish to attend the workshop because I want to learn about scriptwriting and the best practices to apply the life experiences through the script. So far, I am only able to creatively write these sensibilities through the essays I publish in my personal blog, and do some letter-writing to an imaginary person to expand whatever I have in my mind.

In addition, I want expand my social capital and finally, advocate for myself.

You see, I may be a straight woman, but with the current trends of social political climate and men being asses, I desire a “lavender relationship” — a woman being committed to a gay man. Kahit manlalaki pa sya sa labas, ang mahalaga, sa akin uuwi. At pareho naming pagkukwentuhan kung bakit ang gagago ng mga kapwa lalaki sa panahon ngayon. I do have a goal in mind since my 39^th birthday, and aside from submitting this entry, is to write to Marvin Agustin and introduce myself, offering whatever I have as a self-sustaining middle class corporate slave, and finally take a step to get to know the creative people behind the show business and expand my network and tackle the desires of my heart.

Wala kasing ganito sa corporate. Lahat gusto kang anakan.

And maybe this is way beyond the usual reasons for applying to your workshop, I do want to gain experience and networks to finally having this creative pursuit as a retirement career from the daily corporate grind of being a Fund Accountant.

Thank you for considering my application.

Yours truly,

MARIA ELLA BETOS, CPA

Then I attached my Creative Nonfiction about my hike in Mt. Pulag and kind of let them what I know about writing. But then again, the letter of intent is as polarizing as my romantic POV in that essay of seeing that happiest thing happened to date. Wala pa ring tatalo sa isang kilo ng bigas. Kung meron man, it will be that black credit card (and that needs to be written as another entry, but I can’t. Because if I write about it, I don’t own that happy story anymore… it will be the world’s.)

Punch at Pat’s

“Dali, Z! Drive this car out!”
“Ito na, ito na!!! Si sir, kumusta? BAKIT TAYO MAY DALANG DUGUAN?!”
“Nakakaawa kasi siya eh. Itakbo lang natin saglit sa PGH, Isaglit lang natin ito. Mahimasmasan man lang at matignan ko. Kahit sa student quarters.”
“Anong matingnan?! Hindi ka pa lisensyado, gurl! You are still a med student!!!”
“Z wag ka nang maingay please, ang first aid ko nandun sa ospital. Andun ang gamit ko. Hindi naman dadaang OPD. ER agad, ako na titingin, ganun.”
“Gurl, bakit ba kasi binitbit pa natin yan?! Tignan mo ‘tong si Lis, namumutla na rin. Don’t tell me dalawa silang gagamutin mo?”
“Z – STOP. Okay girls, sandali.”

Kumalma nga kayo.
Iba talaga kapag mga babae ang mga kasama mo, hindi alam ang mga sinasabi minsan.

“Girls. 1. Si sir, conscious, okay? He hears us. Lasing lang, pero nakakapagsapak. And 2. He saved me, kargo ko siya. So, if you don’t want to help, fine. Magtataxi ako dala-dala ko ‘yan siya.”

“OKAY OKAY JESS OKAY ITO NA NGA OH DADALHIN NA NATIN. LIS OKAY KA LANG, HA? UMINOM KANG TUBIG, MERON DYAN SA GLOVE COMPARTMENT. ITO NA NAGDA-DRIVE NA! AFTER NITO, IHAHATID KO SI LIS PAUWI.”
“Thank you.”

Umuugong ang Never the Strangers playlist ni Z. Kahit papaano, nakakatulong siya para manatiling gising ang lalaking kasama namin. I don’t need saving, sana. Nakapantalon at naka-long sleeve ako. May dala akong jacket. May kasama akong mga kaibigan. Pero minsan talaga sa pagka-machismo ng pagkakataon,muntikan pa akong mabiktima ng sexual assault. Mabuti na lang itong sira ulo na ‘to, kahit lasing, eh nagpaka-knight in shining armor.

Yun lang. Pagkasapak, nasapak pabalik.

Hay. Men.

Nice set, Jessica Patrimonio. Sakto, bukas, may reporting plus duty. Minsan na nga lang maglamyerda, ganito pa. Ano ba naman kasing itong si Z, akala ko hanggang balwarte lang ng Maynila ang aming Girl’s Night Out. Umabot pa talaga ng kyusi. Langya. Isa pa itong si Lis, nagpapaka-Laco. Kung hindi pa aaluin ni Z at kung wala pang dalang sasakyan, hindi pa sasama. Tapos kung saan kakain, eh di ayun, sa bar ko raw. Jess & Pat’s. As if naman ako ang may-ari, dahil pinaikling pangalan ko lang yung lugar.

Patawa ‘tong dalawang ‘to.

“Hi, Z!”
“Gurl, finally, nakawala ka sa hawla mo! Kumusta naman sa ospital? Good thing I waited here in Café Adriatico.”
“Eto, pagod. Palagi naman. Ito nga ako, may eyebags na tinubuan ng mata.”
“HAHAHAHA Girl, you still look stunning. Maswerte magiging boa mo kapag nakilala ka. You both have the beauty and brains! Proud kaya ako sa iyo, girl.”

“Hah, thanks. Si Lis?”
“Asa class pa raw siya. I just want to treat you a coffee overload because I want to invite you somewhere.”
“Ha? Saan ito?”
“May extra kang damit? Tara gig! Matagal na akong fan ng set na ito eh. Sud, at saka yung Flips.”

“Alam mo Z yang mga kinakaabangan mong boyband minsan –”
“Girl, let me tell you something: they are not a boyband! Just. Band.”
“I don’t like the vibe of these men. Hindi ko alam. Nakita ko sila sa twitter. Maingay yung issue sa kanila.”
“Don’t listen to them, they create good music because they are good.”

“What? Good manipulators?”
“Jess, wag OA. Huwag kang papa-manipulate kasi if ayaw mo. Laro-laro lang yan. Maunang mahulog, talo. Wait, I’ll call Lis. She needs convincing that the place we are going is safe. Stay put, order some Americano.”

Showbiz by Never the Strangers
An Excerpt

Sumama ka na sa akin
Dahil bihirang dumating ang pagkakataon
Gusto mo bang mag showbiz
Iwan ang dati mong buhay
Para sa di tiyak na hinaharap

Handa ka na ba magshowbiz
Lumapit ka pa sa camera
Ito ang una mong pelikula

PutanginaHAHAHAHAH

Nice.
Nakakaloko rin itong playlist mo, Z.
Nakakaloko rin yang bandang yan. Hah. If I know, isa rin sila sa mga gossips underground na dawit sila sa mga enabler ng sexual assault. Hindi ko lang alam ha, pero, Diyos ko, kasalanan ba yung maging kaaya-aya ang hitsura mo? Wala naman akong suot na revealing o ano. Maayos ako manamit. Malinis rin akong manamit. Hindi man ako perpekto, pero hindi ako yung mga babaeng naka-pekpek shorts basta may coachella. Pantalon na ang suot ko, may dala nga akong jacket, di ba? Pero putangina. Sa sobrang bait at accommodating ko rin kasi minsan, hindi ko namamalayan hinahalayan na pala ako ng isang basista after ng second set. Ang inosente naming tatlo na nanonood –

Fuck naman, minsan na nga lang ako mag-unwind.

Ayan sir, pumipikit-pikit ka. That is a good sign. You are battling the need to sleep and the pain. Quezon Ave na tayo, lampas na tayo ng Sto. Domingo. Hindi ko lang alam ha, pero kapag naaaninag ka ng dilaw na ilaw sa madaling araw, pogi ka pala. Kahit sira ulo. Gusto kong magpasalamat pero kailangan muna natin i-check ang mukha mo. Sayang, minsan lang ako makakita ng kaaya-ayang tanawin sa PGH. Ayos rin ang waze ni Z. Legit runway ang mga daan ngayon – pagkalabas ng Maginhawa, dere-derecho ang Quezon Ave, Welcome, España, Lerma, Lacson at Taft. She knows her logistics, lalo na’t kapag trapik. I commend her road-savvy skillsets in exploring the insides of the Sampaloc community nang bumiyahe kami mula PGH during primetime.

“Miss, alam mo, kahit hubarin mo jacket mo, okay lang, hindi naman malamig.”
“Okay lang po ako, thanks.”

“May number ka?”
“…”
“Ilang taon ka na, miss?”
“…”
GET OUT OF THIS PLACE, Jess.
Z, look at me. PLEASE Z LOOK AT ME.
Lis, I NEED HELP PLEASE LOOK AT ME.

“Miss, may boyfriend ka na?”
Jess, you can walk away. Kaya mong lumaban.
You know Krav Maga, or at least, remember some methods.
Jess, have courage. WALK AWAY.

“Miss, subukan mo ngumiti kapag tutugtog na kami sa last set. Hindi ako yung singer pero magaling akong mag-bang. Hehehe”
“…”
OH MY GOD THIS MAN FUCK KAYA MO SYANG BALIBAGIN, JESS.
BUT CHOOSE TO WALK AWAY.

“Miss, what’s your name? Nagsisimula ba sa letter J?”
WHAT IN THE FUCK IS –
“Janice? Jasmine? Jas? Jes?”
“…”
“Oh, Jes? I saw your surprised eyes. Jes, the name alone got me excited. Nakaka-inspire tumugtog.”
STOP TOUCHING MY HAIR STOP TOUCHING MY FACE STOP IT STOP IT WALK AWAY JESS SHUT UP YOU MONSTER PLEASE SAVE ME SAVE ME ANYONE PLEASE LOOK AT US LOOK THIS WAY!!!

“Nice music paps, pero tanginamo!”
HARD PUNCH YUN. BLAG. GRABE. YEAH, HE DESERVED IT.

“Putangina mo at sa mga katulad mong magaling mambiktima tangina mo kasama ka sa mga kalipunan na nanggagago ng mga estudyante ko.”

“Hey, stop. Wala na syang malay. Tutugtog pa raw sya!”

“Tugtog nya bayag nya! Okay ka lang?”
“Ha?
“Pareng paradox is what they call me.”
“Ha?”
“Minsan, sir Araullo. Nagtuturo kasi –”

“SIR!!!”
“Sapakan pala gusto mo! Pre, ano?”
“Tama na!!!”
“Jess?!?!”
“Z LET’S GO!!!”

Sir, wait lang, huwag kang matutulog. Huwag na huwag, malapit na tayo! Nasa Lacson bridge na, ilang lipad na lang ni Z sa kotse. Kausapin ko kaya si sir?

“Hi.”
“Hi. Pero wait lang po sir, huwag ka muna magsalita, may sugat ka pa.”
“Okay ka lang, miss?”
“Okay ako, salamat.”
“Wallet ko. Right pocket. Andun ang ID ko.”
“Okay, okay.”

“Okay ka lang ba? Hindi ka ba nagkaka-anxiety? Tremors, or anything?”
“Narito naman ang mga kaibigan ko, nakabantay rin sa akin. Okay na ako. Ikaw?”
“Ito, duguan.”
“Sir naman, nagawa mo pang magbiro.”

“Stop calling me sir, hindi kita estudyante.”
“Ha? Sabi mo kasi –”
“Sid. Ako si Sid. Gusto ko munang matulog, nahihilo ako.”
“Wait lang malapit na tayo nasa Faura na tayo!”

“Saan tayo papunta?”
“I need to check your head. Ide-derecho kitang ER.”
“Ha? Ospital?”
“Oo, Sid. PGH. Asa ER na tayo.”

Poetics: lumang akda, nilapat ko ito noong pandemic lockdowns kasi gusto kong subukan sumulat ng maikling kwento o dagli na dadaan sa kahabaan ng Espanya hanggang kamaynilaan. Sinubukan kong sumulat nang walang quotation marks, pero hindi ko pa kasi kilala si Sally Rooney nang nilikha ko ito, kaya mas pinili kong may quotes para mas accessible sa batang mambabasa ang pagbagtas sa mga daan at sa mismong kwento. Isa pa, ginawa ko ang kwentong ito habang nakikinig sa kantang Alive ng Never the Strangers — mga tatlong oras on-loop. Maganda ang ritmo ng kanta sa bawat tipa at paglabas ng adrenalin rush sa akda.

Suman sa Boulevard

Sa magdamag kong pagtatrabaho’t paglilinis ng kwarto ay gutom ang dinatnan sa bukang liwayway, at nasambit ang, “pa-umaga na naman”. Bumaba sa condo at hinanap ang paboritong lako ng manong taho. Pero wala. Nasabi ko na lang, “Ongapala, araw ng paggawa.”

Sa paglalakad sa gilid ng Pasig Boulevard, matamlay din ang mga nakatambay at ang paubos na tindang dilis at gulay. ‘Kako ni Ate, “Diyan na lang kay Kuya ka magtingin at baka may gusto kang kainin.” Nakita ko ang suman. Ang kaning malagkit— panlaman din ng tiyan.

Sa lungkot na pagbalik sa aking tahanan, naisip ko ang pinili kong karera at may kakaibang kultura: ang pagpasok tuwing nagha-holiday ang bansa. Sa Amerika, hindi ito kinikilala, kaya required mag-report sa opisina.

Isang hinga, isang singhal.
Isang buntung-hininga at binulong,

“Little Ella, pakatandaan: sa mundo ng mga kapitalista… ang simpleng puslit ng pahinga, ang pagninilay at pagkatha… ang mga ito’y uri din ng pakikidigma.”

*Sumang latik, sumang malagkit.*
*Maka-ninja ng kwento kahit saglit.*

Snippets of the Last Frontier of Floody Manila

Book Review of Barcelona by Criselda Yabes

Ang ganda ng naging reading journey ko!

Nakatulong ang konteksto ng Some People Need Killing as Review of Related Literature (RRL) for processing trauma from EJK and the psyche of people who fight against the harsh reality of Drug War.

Kung ako ay may anak, ipapabasa ko ba ito? Sa isang dose anyos, oo. Kasi, 12 years old ako nang mabasa ko ang Dekada 70. At nakakagising siya ng diwa ng pagkakapantay-pantay at umuugong sa puso ang kabuuan ng boses ng tao sa aktibismo. Pero, mas maganda ito kung guided reading ng mga nakakatanda, kasi mas maipapaliwanag ng mga guro o ng mga magulang kung bakit ganun ang karanasan ni Barcelona. Ipapaliwanag ang kawalan ng pribilehiyo, ang mismong kalakaran ng droga, at yung panggagago ng mga pulis sa mga taong tingin nila ay hayop, o basura.

Naka-relate ako sa persona ni Barcelona. Na, “Ang anak ay bunga rin ng Ama”. Matandang dalaga, walang anak. Pero may mga nakapalibot na komunidad. Isa pa, may inggit rin kahit paano. Kasi ang tatay nya hindi naman masamang damo. Sadyang biktima lang ng pagkakataon. Sobrang kabaligtaran ng danas ko. Anak nga ako (ni papa), pero mas kilala ko ang mga ugali at gawi na hinding-hindi ko ipapamana. Isa pa, mas nanaisin kong basagin ang sumpa ng generational trauma sa pamamagitan ng pagtila ng pagpaparami ng lahi niya (100% ayoko ng anak, kahit multuhin nya pa ako in the near future, haha!).

Haha, mapakla ulit. Sorna.

Medyo nagulat ako sa open ending ng akda. Bakit sa lighthouse? Bakit hindi ideretso sa paraiso? Baka yun talaga ang plano ng author: ipaliwanag na ang laban ay isang mahabang marathon at hindi isang pasadang takbo.

Pagkasugat, Pagkahilom at Pagkilos

PRPB’s Book Talakayan of Kaisa Aquino’s Isabela

Last 22nd March, the Pinoy Reads Pinoy Books (PRPB) discussed Kaisa’s debut novel Isabela. To celebrate the Women’s month, #AbanteBabae was reinforced with a woman writer and a woman moderator tackling the heavy prose of the book; it’s fragmented realities and lost histories, together with the involvement of women in the movement, either directly or indirectly. Sheltered in the safe space of Quezon City Public Library, we made the discussion more friendly through the banters and jests, inviting the attendees to interject or ask follow-up questions as we go along the discussions.

We opened the BT with the introduction of everyone, knowing their names and their current activities, and who are their favorite Women Writers. Even though we are of less than 20 attendees, I was amazed that we have cited many women writers, echoing their contributions to the rich landscape of the Pinoy literary.

Kaisa, a profound Filipino word meaning “one with”, confessed that she is a 90’s kid, She explained that her name is merely a combination of two provinces — Cagayan and Isabela. With her name demystified, we also asked on how the interweaving stories came into life and how it was also blended together, crafting a composite novel from her years in her graduate school. “Thesis lang naman talaga ito eh,” she mentioned, but after the 7 years of writing grind and multiple workshops, she gave birth a tale of different women from the iterations of Isabela, overarching the theme of her hometown and its proximity from the three decades of insurgency in the countryside.

One of the questions I asked was “women and wounds”, and how Isabela’s multiple iterations received all forms of wounds — from a literal bullet, to the disappearances, to the loss of a husband, of a son, and of a father — and how they carry it through time, while coping and healing through different means. As a reader, I felt the heaviness of the prose. They carry the wounds and they keep on moving, continuing on the search and meaning, may it be a run for survival (from the military), a search for an alternative healing (tawa-tawa leaves) and a trail to summit (to see the purple hydrangeas). I even told Kaisa, “Sana ako na lang ang nasusugatan… kasi parang ang bigat na.” She answered back, “Ella, hindi ka ba nasusugatan?” Her reverse card question made me realize that I am also very much a wounded woman who soldiers on, the same with the characters in the novel.

Aside from the questions of themes, the winding narratives, and the execution of prose, the members also shared their reading experiences. CL mentioned how the multitude of characters and iterations were effectively executed. Kwesi asked about redefining the work from his first impression that Isabela is a collection of short stories. Jaffy digressed that maybe the novel is a proposed reality from the current socio-political climate we are in. Jayson shares that he sees the sentiments of regrets and its fragmented stories of struggle. Lawrence apologizingly confessed that he found the open-ended endings of each chapter difficult to ingest, a journey very challenging to trek because of the shifts
of the point-of-view and genre of realism and magical realism. I guess his reading experience feels like a tiring hike, its summit filled with fog. Meanwhile, my reading experience feels like away from the mountains. I shared the metaphor of anchorage and voyage via the novel’s prologue and ending; a ship lifting its anchors (the norms imposed on women), readying itself for another journey (of going home).

Miss Thelma, a retired teacher and a guest of our Book Talakayan, did not ask Kaisa any questions about the latter’s craft and poetics, but thanked her instead. She was grateful that someone has written about her province. In her mellow voice, she told us that their shared hometown is filled with stories of beauty and activism and after a long time, Kaisa was able to put them in paper.

The final question came from Rikkimar, a PNU student. “Paano natin mailalapit ang akda sa mga taong malayo sa danas ng nasa libro?” To which Billy jokingly answered, “Eh di ipabasa mo.” And I believe Kaisa agreed, because one way to reach the other’s heart is through a shared experience and building through a community of reading.

I ended the #BookTalakayan citing this page 77 of Isabela, its prose a perfect description of a suspended reality:

“Ka Abel says that they’re here. This is the place. Just as they cross over the bend of the meadow, without warning whatsoever, the landscape changes, as if a cloth lifts, and all they can now see are the purple hydrangeas. They are all suddenly still, stunned by the unreal view, like a fantasy. The world tilts heavily as they take in the whole landscape. It’s marvelous.”

A day after, I still remember the echoes and sighs of this discussion I moderated. And I realized, this book club can appreciate the stillness of beauty among the chaos of the mad world.

Bidyoke Sa Gedli

Pagkatapos ng PRPB Book Talakayan, sumama ako sa mga kaibigang dumalaw sa Silingan Coffee. Ang sabi-sabi, may kaunting pa-party ang mga may-ari. Dahil masyadong maaga kami dumating, nakita ko ang pagse-set up sa labas ng tindahan: laptop at speaker, mic, camera, mga mesa at upuan. Hindi pa fully ready, kaya naghapunan muna kami.

Pagbalik muli sa kapehan ay nakita namin ang kainitan ng kantahan ng mga kababaihan ng Silingan— mga nanay, lola, at ate; mga human rights advocate, trauma counselor at jounalist — mga babaeng naging kaibigan at kaanak ng mga biktima ng EJK. Lumapit sa amin ang isa at nag-anyaya na kami’y makikanta at makisayaw sa kakantahin nila sa bidyoke. Maya-maya lamang, siya’y nagsalaysay tungkol sa kanyang lalaking anak na pinaslang ng pulis; tila ang tingin sa kaniyang buhay ay walang saysay. Kahit masaya syang may lumipad sa Hague, bumuntung-hininga siya at sinabing, “Wala namang araw na hindi mabigat. At alam nating simula pa lang ito ng mahabang laban.” Pero biglang kumabig at nagsabing, “Ngayon, hinga muna at pagbigyan ang sarili. Mag-celebrate sa little win.”

Habang kinakanta nila ang Tatsulok, hindi ko mapigilang makikanta at isigaw ang “Hangga’t marami ang lugmok sa kahirapan, at ang hustisya ay para lang sa mayaman!” Batid ko, kasama ng sanlaksang kababaihang nakiki-jamming, na mahaba pa ang laban. Na kailangan nating mas maging matatag. Sa araw-araw, tapang ang ating tangan.

Tila bumulong muli ang tanong ng author sa pinanggalingang panayam, “Ella, hindi ka rin ba nasusugatan?” Kasabay ng biglang pag-alala ay ang aking paghawak sa mukhang tila nilamig ng minsanang hangin ng gabi.

Yun pala…
May mata nang tumubig.
May luha sa pisngi.

119 Characters Short

Susubukan kong muling sumulat.

Kahit tula, kahit dagli.
Masabi na sa kaunting sandali,
Hindi anxiety ang mananatili.

May mga moments akong gusto
kong itago ang gulo ng mundo at
ilapat sa papel,
Ngunit kahit ang simpleng
paglapat ng bolpen sa notebook
ay mahirap gawin. Kahit kaunting
tipa, hirap din.

Tapos mabibitin ang character
count kasi ang app ay para
lamang sa dagli at hindi para
ayusin ang gulo ng isip.

*Happy poetry day. Isang prosaic poem kasi papangit kapag bars attack ang atake. Hirap akong tumula.*

PaRosa sa Opisina

Drafted Poem for Literary Tuesday of Mountain Beacon; Didn’t push through since I really sucked at Poetry.

Mula opisina
Tangan ang rosas na nag-iisa
Habang binabata
Ang dibdib sa paggala
Mula BGC hanggang Roma.
Hindi ko kinaya
Ang puyat at pata,
Kaya napilitang pumara
Sa traysikel, una nyang pasada.

Na-realize kong hindi ako marunong tumula…

Nakakawili lang na
Ang tema ay bulaklak sa akda,
At ako’y kumukuda
Habang ang rosa
Ay nakasalpak sa bagong labada,
Mabangong suotin

Mula kay Mama.

Booktokish: Snippets of Content Creator

Book Review of Gerald Gruezo’s Pinanganak Akong Bakla at ilan pang mga akda

Nakakabitin!

Tunay ngang patikim ang mga akda niya rito sa litol chapbook niya! Maraming salamat sa Akdang Pinoy dahil nanalo ako sa raffle nila, at plano ko sana itong ipa-raffle papunta sa ibang interesado ng kanyang mga akda, because sharing is caring! 😉

Limang titulo ang narito. Yung unang apat, kwentong buhay niya. Pagpapakilala niya, ganun. Catchy ang unang akda kasi andaming em dash— alam mong madaldal siya sa personal (with lots of social media channels, andami nga niyang nagiging engagement!). Isa pa, parang nakapagbasa ka rin ng blog entry sa Una at Ikaapat niyang entry sa libro. Yung ikaapat, sobrang conversational. Bigla kong naalala ang Unang Reglang kwento ni Beverly Wico Siy sa una niyang Koleksyon na It’s a Mens World. Ang galing lang.

As a geriatric millennial, I recommend the teenagers and younger GenZ demographic to try his works. Lalo na yung huli niyang entry dito na pinamagatang “Unang Kabanata”, kasi promising ang fiction. Pwedeng pocketbook na folklore, pwede ring tungkol sa mga kwentong bayan ng Quezon (kung saan siya lumaki). Sana masubukan nila basahin ang libro (kahit limitado ang kopya, baka naman may reprint ang Balangay in the future di ba?)

I also would like to commend Balangay Productions as the publisher kasi ang ganda ng kulay ng pabalat. Nakakahalina. Pati yung print ng font at ang edit ng mga gawa, malinis. #SanaAll aesthetics is life, charot. Kapag nag-reprint ito, wagi ang mga followers ni @geraldthebookworm for sure!